On May 5, 1990, G"oran Selvik (Sundsvall, Sweden 1938) passed away. Having
known him for about 15 years, it is with sadness that I am posting this obituary
onto Biomch-L. The funeral service will take place on Wednesday, May 23, 1990,
in S:t Olofs Chapel, Lund, Sweden, at 12:00.

* * * * * * * * * * *

G"oran's great interest and aptitude for mathematics and physics motivated him
to study science at Lund's University, Sweden, where he took his MSc in 1961.
Already during his student years, his scientific and teaching capabilities were
apparent, and he occupied various positions during 1959 - 1970 at the Institutes
for Mathematics and for Theoretical Physics and Mechanics in Lund. In 1968, he
started to study medicine, and he obtained his medical licence in 1985. In
1969, he started to work at the Institute for Anatomy at Lund's University,
where he became a lecturer in 1974; there, he continued to work until his death.
Also in 1974, he obtained a medical PhD (*), and he was appointed an associate
professor in Anatomy during 1975.

G"oran's thesis and his continued research proved a pioneering effort within
medical roentgentechnology. He developed a new measurement method -- roentgen
stereophotogrammetry -- which allows the analysis of body segment movement and
skeletal growth at high accuracy. His approach was recognized within Sweden
and internationally, and G"oran was invited as primary speaker to many confe-
rences world-wide.

While coaching researchers both in medicine and odontology, G"oran enjoyed the
publication of a number of PhD-theses that built on his roentgenological measu-
rement method. Thanks to his mathematical talents and clear intellect, G"oran
succesfully assisted many investigators with the application of roentgen stereo-
photogrammety to clinical problems. A large number of scientific publications,
especially within orthopaedics and cranio-facial surgery, were the result of a
fertile collaboration with clinical practitioners.

In teaching anatomy to physicians and health gymnasts, G"oran was an inestimable
member of the department of Anatomy; his eminent teaching capabilities were
generally recognized. His presentation was clear and concise, and he was always
open to promote that students would obtain the best education possible.

Through his unobtrusive personality, G"oran found many friends amongst his
colleagues and collaborators. It was easy to work with him, and it is with a
feeling of great loss that we realize his absence. However, his scientific
contributions exist and will remain with us.

(*) G"oran Selvik, A roentgen stereophotogrammetric method for the study
of the kinematics of the skeletal system. Thesis, University of Lund, 1974.
Reprinted as: Roentgen stereophotogrammetry, A method for the study of the
kinematics of the skeletal system (with a bibliography for 1974-1989). Acta
Orthopaedica Scandinavica (1989), Suppl. No. 232.

(Adapted from an article to appear in Sydsvenska Dagbladet next week, from
the Institutes of Anatomy and Diagnostic Radiology, Lund's University, by
John-Gunnar Forsberg, Holger Petterson, and Bertil Sonesson)

* * * * * * * * * * *

Some time ago on Biomch-L, I mentioned a review paper by G"oran to appear
shortly in Acta Radiologica. I understand that this paper will be published
early June 1990, and I think that it is appropriate to publish its abstract
below. (When I visited him some 5 years ago, he was recovering from having
implanted tantalum markers in his own, healthy knee.) A G"oran Selvik Memory
Fund for Medical Research has been initiated, with Swedish bankgironumber
5664-2739.

>From the Department of Anatomy, University of Lund, and Department of Diagnostic
Radiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

ROENTGEN STEREOPHOTOGRAMMETRIC ANALYSIS -- a review article

G"oran Selvik

ABSTRACT

Soon after Roentgen's discovery, the `new' rays were used to produce stereosco-
pic images or used for spatial reconstruction of positions of foreign bodies.
However, no systematic use of roentgen stereo measurements seem to have occur-
red until the 1970's, although many attempts were made before. Since 1972 a
system for roentgen stereophotogrammetry has been in use at the University Hos-
pital in Lund. The system has been named RSA, roentgen stereophotogrammetric
analysis. It is a complete system, including instrumentation for implanting
tantalum landmarks, devices for calibration of the stereo roentgen set-up, and
comprehensive software. Using different calibration set-ups, any body part can
be investigated under different conditions using standard roentgen equipment.
The computer programs make it possible to calculate spatial landmark coordinates
from measured film coordinates, and further calculate growth, volume changes or
kinematic variables in well-defined and generally used terms. After the basic
principles have been established, a survey of applications grouped according to
anatomic regions follows. Special emphasis is layed on total hip and knee re-
placement, which besides complex craniofacial and spinal disorders are the most
rewarding fields of study.